Internet blocked, Haryana border sealed ahead of farmers’ Tuesday march to Delhi
Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar-led Haryana government on Saturday announced.
The suspension of mobile internet, bulk SMS and all dongle services in several districts till February 13 in view of the farmers’ proposed ‘Delhi Chalo’ march on February 13.
More than 200 farmers’ unions, including the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, have announced a ‘Delhi Chalo’ march scheduled for February 13 (Tuesday). The purpose of the march is to exert pressure on the central government to meet various demands, including enactment of a law to guarantee a minimum support price (MSP) for crops.
The services have been suspended in districts including Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa. According to a notification released by Haryana administration, bulk SMS and all dongle services provided on mobile networks, except voice calls, will remain suspended.
The order will be in effect from 6 am of February 11 till 11:59 pm on February 13, the notification read. Meanwhile, elaborate arrangements are underway to secure the borders between Punjab and Haryana in Ambala, Jind, and Fatehabad districts in anticipation of the farmers’ ‘Delhi Chalo’ march.
Barricading is being done by Haryana police and local administration in Ambala in view of farmers’ march to Delhi.
Security was also tightened at the Shambhu border near Ambala with Haryana Director General of Police Shatrujeet Kapur, Inspector General of Police (Ambala Range) Siwas Kaviraj and Ambala Superintendent of Police Jashandeep Singh visiting the border area.
Poice have asked commuters going from Chandigarh to Delhi to take alternative routes via Derabassi, Barwala/Ramgarh, Saha, Shahbad, Kurukshetra, or through Panchkula, NH-344 Yamunanagar Indri/Pipli, Karnal.
Haryana Police has deployed 50 companies of central paramilitary forces to maintain law and order in the state. The protesting farmers have been asked not to participate without permission in a planned march and warned of strict action if they damage public property.
The general public is appealed to travel to Punjab only in urgent circumstances. Similar security arrangements are being made in Jind and Fatehabad districts. Farmers have planned to head to Delhi from the Ambala-Shambhu border, Khanauri-Jind and the Dabwali border.